You are the Fire Starter

People familiar with direct sales have no difficulty agreeing with the obvious conclusion that people work for something other than money. However, it isn’t quite that simple. Most people start for the money.

If you were to ask why people started a direct sales business, you would hear descriptions that sound like:

“I could work part time and make the same money as . . .”

“I didn’t have to pack my baby off to a sitter every day and so the income matched my regular job.”

“I needed a part-time job to pay some credit card debt and had to work around my regular job.”

Once you filter through all of these rationales, then the conclusion becomes a little more complicated. If it is only about the money, you know the business would look different:

Fewer people would start slow. They want the income and new consultant bonuses often give a big boost.

Productivity would be higher. The more you sell, the more you earn.

People would leave for better-paying jobs but other reasons to leave would have less importance.

Once you explore behind the money, you’ll find lots of passions. People wouldn’t have signed up for a sales job if the money wasn’t there. BUT THEY SIGN UP FOR MORE THAN THE MONEY.

Think of it this way: They don’t join the direct sales profession for the money, but they wouldn’t do it without the money. John Stuart Mill would call money a necessary but insufficient cause. As a parallel, oxygen is necessary for fire, but the presence of heat and a combustible material provide the sufficiency for a fire. An income is necessary for direct sales, but it also needs a passion and well-designed methods.

People come for the money but stay because direct sales fills the passion in their heart. Let’s face it. Engaging in sales activities is pretty scary for most people and the money, in and of itself, is not enough of an incentive to get people to sell. On the other hand, the money to be found in sales can attract beginners, and the other benefits—the free time, success, family time, and so on—can keep them there.

You, as a leader, get to sustain their fire. The income lights the fire, but it won’t keep the fire burning. You get to help them find their, heart, core, purpose, why, reason-for-being.

Here is your challenge: help more people on your team find and understand their passion. Once they see how their passion fuels their fire, the rest of your job will get much, much easier.

What do you think? How will you help people find their passion in direct sales?

Where will you find tools to help people find their passion?

How will you grow your capacity to support your team? Learning new skills is a part of growing, but it’s not the whole story. Team Connections Pro is one powerful option to support your development. We’ve all been there and understand what you are going through. We also know that our role is best filled by coaching you to explore your limits and then hold you to your chosen activities.

For $47 a month, you have access to training materials, podcasts, webinars, and COACHING. Where else can all of those options be there for you? You owe it to yourself to look at Team Connections Pro.

Neil Phillips

I'm one of the lucky people who gets up every day loving what he does. I coach. I get to support people who want to take control of their future happiness and livelihood. I help them get the best out of what they have. My hope is that you will find some of your passion in these articles.